A Demon's Kiss ✔️

FIFTEEN

Word Count: 1677

~Aspen

I linger near the doorway, watching Kastriv ready for bed.

He gave me time to change, and then I did, and now, I'm scared to step past the threshold of the room, knowing once I do, there will be no going back.

He's far calmer than me, adjusting the pillow quietly.

Am I really about to sleep next to him in bed?

"I should warn you, I haven't slept with another man in...well, ever," I admit quietly, rubbing the back of my neck.

Kastriv turns, brows furrowed as he looks over me, as if he's startled by my words.

My skin flushes with heat as I realise what I just said.

"I mean, I've slept with a man, like had sex...With Oliver, a few times in the beginning," I ramble, unsure of why I'm even admitting this to him.

His eyes narrow slightly.

"I'm sorry. What I meant is that I've never slept next to another man before," I finally amend, breathing in deeply and holding it, concentrating on the burn in my lungs rather than Kastriv's pressing gaze.

He takes his time answering, before he softly murmurs, "It's not as if I expect anything from you, Aspen."

I release my breath, twisting my fingers together uncomfortably.

Even with the window open, I'm burning hot. The tension in the room is palpable, but I'm unsure of how to break it.

He looks almost human, dressed down like his in loose pants, entirely shirtless. He really is a work of art, really. I could stare at the strong planes of his torso, at those well muscled arms all day.

"I know that...that you're not like that." I tightly clutch the doorframe, grateful for something solid to stop me from collapsing onto the ground.

Kastriv pauses.

"What am I like?" he asks gently.

"Nice. You're nice." I could rattle on with compliments for him for hours, but landing on nice seems sufficient enough. "You wouldn't corrupt a woman. Not one you like."

He stares at me, an unfamiliar burn to his eyes. I wish I knew what he was thinking, when he looks at me like that.

"A woman I like is exactly who I would corrupt, Aspen," he murmurs.

My breath hitches. He's talking about sex, about seducing someone, and I'm meant to just stand here and not look like an idiot? That's not possible, especially when I'm finding it nearly impossible to not start fidgeting.

"I..oh."

"I don't think we were thinking of the same thing." He sits down on the bed, sweeping his hand carelessly through those beautiful ivory locks.

I straighten. He probably thinks I'm an inexperienced fool, blushing when he mentions sex, but I'm not. I may not know everything, but I don't want to back down on this so simply.

"Well, I know exactly what you're capable of."

He leans back on his pillow, smirking. "Really?"

"I heard what you said to Oliver that day. The way you talked about..." I break off, losing my edge. His gaze is just so intense, those dark eyes stripping back each layer of insecurity.

"Sex?" Just hearing him say that has chills fluttering over my skin.

"Yeah."

"Those were just words," he assures me. He's just saying that to comfort me, knowing it's hard for me to slip under the covers.